MRSA is a contagious skin infection that spreads easily through skin-to-skin contact or indirectly from person to person.
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is a contagious bacterial skin infection that spreads easily through skin-to-skin contact or indirectly from person to pe rson.
MRSA is very contagious under certain circumstances (when skin alterations or damage are present). It spreads through person-to-person contact with a skin infection or even indirect contact, such as contact with a MRSA-infected person's clothing or towels or even from benches in gyms.
All MRSA needs to establish itself is a small break in the skin or mucosa. This is important because no breaks means no infection; for example, MRSA skin-infected or MRSA-colonized pregnant females seldom infect their fetus or infants. However, many activities, such as kissing, saliva exchange, and sexual contact, although somewhat less likely to transfer MRSA to another, can cause infection if the skin or mucosa is damaged.
Hospitalized patients, if they have MRSA pneumonia, may transfer the organisms to others through the air by contaminated droplets. Bodies of people who die from MRSA infections often have viable MRSA on their surfaces, and these organisms can infect other people. The incubation period for MRSA ranges from 1 to 10 days.
As long as there are viable MRSA bacteria in or on an individual who is colonized with these bacteria or infected with the organisms, MRSA is contagious. Consequently, a person colonized with MRSA (one who has the organism normally present in or on the body) may be contagious for an indefinite period of time. In addition, MRSA organisms can remain viable on some surfaces for about two to six months if they are not washed or sterilized.
For most staph infections, including MRSA, the incubation period is often indefinite if the organisms are colonizing (not infecting) an individual (see above). However, the incubation period for MRSA often ranges from 1 to 10 days if it enters broken skin or damaged mucous membranes.
MRSA is the short form of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and refers to strains of gram-positive coccal-shaped (round) bacteria that are resistant to several antibiotics. MRSA causes mainly skin infections in nonhospitalized people; in hospitalized patients, it can cause sepsis, surgical site infections, and pneumonia . All of these infections may be difficult to treat because of MRSA's resistance to antibiotics.
Most MRSA skin infections first appear as a reddish bump that quickly becomes swollen, painful, and warm and contains or drains pus; they can occur almost anywhere on the body. The infected person may also develop a fever. Hospitalized patients may show surgical wound infections, pneumonia, or sepsis.
However, the definitive way to diagnose MRSA is to have a doctor culture the MRSA bacteria (MRSA rash skin lesion, biopsy, or nasal swab) and then show the organisms are resistant to several different antibiotics.
How easily is MRSA spread from person to person? MRSA in the community is spread from person to person by direct contact; in addition, indirect contact is also a means of spread because the bacteria can survive on objects like towels, benches, shaving equipment, and other surfaces.
For a person to become infected, MRSA usually needs to have a breach (abrasion, cut, rash, or puncture) in the skin. Can MRSA be spread in hospitals or health care settings? Hospital spread of MRSA can include the above methods, in addition, to spread by blood, saliva, and/or droplets in the air that can land on people's skin or other surfaces if the person has pneumonia. Hospitalized patients who are MRSA carriers or infected with MRSA usually are put under isolation conditions (for example, wearing gloves, masks, and gowns, and minimizing physical contact by visitors) to help prevent MRSA spread.
People who are colonized with MRSA are far less likely to transmit the organisms to others; transmission is more likely if the patient is infected with MRSA.
Many people are cured of MRSA when MRSA symptoms resolve. However, a few individuals (about 2 of 100 people) carry MRSA as either transient organisms or colonizing organisms in some body areas such as the nasal mucosa but show no signs of infection. Occasionally, people can be cured of their carrier situation by topical antibiotics when they no longer are positive for MRSA cultures.
Prevention of MRSA infections may be accomplished by good handwashing and body cleaning hygiene practices, especially after playing contact sports or if people live in crowded areas (dorms, camps, or barracks, for example). Although cleaning clothing and other items helps reduce the chance of getting MRSA, using a disinfecting agent like bleach, when feasible, offers an even better chance of prevention.
United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Infections." June 6, 2018. .
Wisconsin Department of Health Services. "MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -- Frequently Asked Questions." Aug. 4, 2016. .
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Cleveland Clinic. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11633-methicillin-resistant-staphylococcus-aureus-mrsa
Preventing Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). CDC. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/prevention/index.html
Illinois Department of Public Health. “MRSA (Pet Owners).” Accessed July 16, 2024. https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/mrsa-pet-owners.html
Davis, C.P. MD, PhD. “Is MRSA Contagious?” Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.medicinenet.com/is_mrsa_contagious/article.htm
MRSA: Facts and Prevention. Mississippi State Department of Health. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://msdh.ms.gov/page/14,5514,271,341.html .
Fisher MD. “What Does MRSA Look Like?” Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/what-does-mrsa-look-like
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 F (37 C), in practice, a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 F (38 C). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal; rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease-producing organisms.
Dicloxacillin is a type of penicillin antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by susceptible penicillinase-producing staphylococci organisms. Common side effects of dicloxacillin include immediate allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, oral inflammation (stomatitis), black and hairy tongue, colon inflammation (pseudomembranous colitis), elevated liver enzymes, low red blood cell count (anemia), vaginal inflammation (vaginitis), kidney inflammation (nephritis), and seizures.
Fungal skin infections and fungal nail infections produce symptoms like red, itchy, circular rashes and thick, discolored, flaky nails. Fungal infection treatment may involve topical medication or oral antifungals.
Gentamicin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to prevent and treat many types of bacterial infections, and is typically administered as an injection. Gentamicin is also used to prevent surgical infections, and to treat conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and infective endocarditis. Common side effects of gentamicin may include reduced urine output, kidney damage, vertigo, dizziness, hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), balance problems (vestibular), impaired coordination, balance and speech (ataxia), gait instability, skin reactions (swelling, rash, itching), and others.
A Staphylococcus or staph infection is caused by a germ that may be found in 30% of healthy people’s noses. Most of the time, these bacteria do not cause any health problems. However, in some people, it may cause skin and other organ infections. Most often, staph causes minor skin infections such as a boil. However, if it enters into your bloodstream and other organs, it may turn out to be deadly.
A staph infection is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Staph can cause boils, food poisoning, cellulitis, toxic shock syndrome, MRSA, and various other illnesses and infections. Most staph infections are transmitted from person to person.
Lincocin is an injectable antibiotic used to treat serious bacterial infections in patients that haven't responded to other antibiotics. Rare, but fatal intestinal problems (pseudomembranous colitis or C. difficile) have occurred with use of this drug. Less serious side effects include itching, abdominal pain, rash, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, hives, anal itching, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness, swollen or painful tongue, vaginal itching or discharge.
Linezolid is an antibiotic used to treat serious bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissue, and pneumonia. Side effects in children include diarrhea/loose stools, nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, vertigo, anemia, and others. Side effects in adults include headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, rash, vaginal yeast infection (moniliasis), fungal infection, and others. Consult your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.
REFERENCE: FDA Prescribing Information for linezolid.
Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus fever, respiratory tract infections, and others. It is also used to treat acne. Do not take if pregnant due to the risk of fetal harm. Do not take if breastfeeding. Common side effects of minocycline include fatigue, dizziness, vertigo, headache, fatigue, drowsiness (somnolence), convulsions, intracranial hypertension, fever, discoloration of secretions, tooth and oral cavity discoloration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and others.
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria causes skin infections with the following signs and symptoms: cellulitis, abscesses, carbuncles, impetigo, styes, and boils. Normal skin tissue doesn't usually allow MRSA infection to develop. Individuals with depressed immune systems and people with cuts, abrasions, or chronic skin disease are more susceptible to MRSA infection.
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Mupirocin is an antibiotic that is used topically for the treatment of impetigo, MRSA, and staph infections. The nasal spray may be prescribed for individuals that come into contact with patients infected with MRSA, or other infectious diseases. Side effects are uncommon and mild with mupirocin. The most frequent side effects are burning, stinging, pain, and itching at the area of application.
Ozenoxacin topical is an antibacterial cream applied on the skin to treat impetigo in adults and children above 2 months of age. Impetigo is a contagious superficial infection on the skin, most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. Prolonged use of ozenoxacin can cause overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms and result in fungal or bacterial superinfections. Common side effects of ozenoxacin topical include inflammatory skin conditions, including rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis.
Sivextro is a tablet for people 12 years of age and older who have a skin infection or an infection in the tissue below the skin. Sivextro is an antibiotic that works by stopping the growth of certain bacteria. Serious side effects of Sivextro include diarrhea from C-diff (Clostridioides difficile) infection.
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